An Oldham church has received a financial boost ahead of Christmas after it was nominated by Greater Manchester residents.

Benefact Group, an international group of financial services businesses, has distributed £120,000 to charities in the UK, with three Greater Manchester charities receiving £1,000 each.

Residents of the city-region were able to nominate charities they felt should be in line for the funding.

St Mark's Church Heyside was one of the three charities in Greater Manchester to be nominated, and the news that the church would receive the money was a "complete surprise", according to the churchwarden John Corbishley.

Mr Corbishley said a meeting would be held in January to determine what to do with the grant.

The church, which was first consecrated in 1878, sits on Perth Street and is led by Reverend Liz Devall.

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Mark Hews, Group Chief Executive of Benefact Group, said: “We are thrilled to be giving £120,000 to 120 fantastic charitable causes across the country and I’d like to thank every single Greater Manchester resident that took the time to nominate a charity close to their hearts.

"We know that £1,000 can make a huge difference to the incredible work that charities do and we’re looking forward to seeing how this financial boost will change lives for the better.”

In total, 15,300 votes for charities were cast by Manchester residents, with Wigan And Leigh Hospice and 250th Manchester St Mary's Scout Group in Droylsden being the other Manchester groups to receive the funding.

Benefact Group is the third largest corporate donor in the UK and is owned by a charity, with all of its available profits go to good causes.